Wheelbarrow structure



s- 3 J. D. FORRER 1,969,457

WHEELBARROW STRUCTURE Filed June 29, 1932 10 van m:

Affomey Patented Aug. 7, 1934 a L 1,969,451 v I WH ELBAnRows'rnUcrunE y a Joseph D. Forrer, fss'ighw to Sheet Aluminum Corporation, Jackson,

a corporation of Michigari' Application June 29, 1932, Serial No. 619,882

3 Claims. (c1. 280-52) The present invention relates to an improvement in wheelbarrow structure and has particular reference to Wheelbarrows of the type shown in application No. 580,792, filed December 14, 1931.

In order to reduce the weight of the usual steel wheelbarrow it is necessary to resort to more expensive metals for lightness of structure, for example, aluminum alloys. It is found not to be practical to merely substitute the lighter metal into the usual steel wheelbarrow construction but that it is necessary to reduce the cubic area of metal employed and completely redesign the structure in order to provide the necessary rigidity with a minimum amount of metal. v

It therefore becomes the primary object of my invention to provide an improvedwheelbarrow frame which will permit the employment of light, relatively thin structural members and will at the same time possess all the necessary rigidity.

More specifically stated, one of the objects of my invention is to combine the function of frame and legs in one self-contained member thereby reducing the labor of fabrication and at the same time provide a truss construction which produces maximum strength and rigidity with a minimum amount of material.

Another object of my invention is to provide a structure which will enable the wheel to be mounted in the frame with the top thereof located I substantially in the plane of the bottom of the tray thus permitting the tray to be supported more directly over the axle of the wheel than is possible in prior wheelbarrow designs.

A further object of my invention is to provide a wheelbarrow construction formed entirely from sheet material, preferably of an aluminum alloy, which will weight less than 40 pounds yet possess the capacity, strength and rigidity of a steel construction of more than double the weight.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as the description of the invention proceeds. It is to be clearly understood, however, that I do not intend to limit myself to the exact details shown or described but that I intend to include as part of my invention, all such changes and modifications of parts as would occur to those skilled in this art and would fall within the scope of the claims.

In the drawing,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the complete wheelbarrow structure.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the frame structure with the wheel and tray removed.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 2.

I With reference to the drawing, my improved wheelbarrow structure, generally designated 1, consists of the usual tray portion 2 supported on and secured to a frame portion generally desig n ated 3 jprovided with handles 4 and a wheel '5. 69.

""Asthe construction of the frame 3,forrns an important part'of 'myinvention the same shall now be described in detail: Tray supporting upper truss members 6, preferably of rolled channel, extend'the entire length of the frame 3, and are slightly deflected at Ito properly elevate thehandle 4 with respects'to the ground and tray. Lower truss members 8, preferably of rolled channel, have their fiangescut at 9 andthe adjacent section of the members 8 are *bent' inwardly to juxtaposition the portions of the'flanjges contiguous the cut 9 to enable arivet"10 to'be passed therethrough. The sections of the lower truss members 8 are fixedly secured tothe top truss members 6 by any well known means, preferably rivets 11 and 12. To increase the rigidity of the truss members 6 and 8, braces 13 are provided directly over the wheel bearing 14 thus to more directly transmit the weight of the load to the axle of the wheel 5. The braces 13 are preferably channel 0 members and are secured within the channels 6 and 8 with the respective flange portions juxtapositioned. In the claims the frame constituted by the members 6'78 is referred to as a belly 8. The braces 15 as illustrated are of L-shap'e construction having one flange riveted to the outer flange of the members 6 and 8. Lateral rigidity is imparted to the frame structure through the employment of tie rods 16 secured to the inward flanges of the braces 15.

The opposed section of the truss members 6 and 8 are rigidly spaced at the forward end of the frame in a spacing channel member 17. A channel brace 18 may be interposed between the front of the tray 2 and the member 17 to stiffen the tray and support a portion of the load of the tray forward of the axle of the wheel 5.

As shown, the tray 2 is directly supported on the truss members 6 and may be fixedly secured thereto by rivets or the like or detachably se- 9.

cured by bolts. To remove all tendency for the framework to twist when the wheelbarrow is tilted to either side in a heavily loaded condition, tie rods 17 are secured to the truss members 6 adjacent the handles 4 and are secured (not 1.1.

is especially adapted for fabricationfromulumi num alloys, it will be readily apparent that the advantages resulting therefrom will {manifest themselves regardless of the "material-employed;

From the foregoing description it will be ap-' parent to those skilled in jt he-gartthathhave;

provided a wheelbarrow frame composed of truss sections which are rigidly braced in all"directions. Furthermore, I have provided a relatively light but rigid structure through 'the"'construc-. tion ofthesupp'ortin'g leg directly in the name as on .self conta'ined member "which permits 1 lighter gage "material. 'to fbe"'the'swhe'el 'to be mounted in a manner permitting the tray to be supported further from; than'hasbeenpossible herebefore.

Having thus described my invention, "what I claim as new and desire'to cover byLettersPatent is:

1. A wheelbarrow comlrlrisin'g spaced vertical side frames havin'g' trays'upportingand'leg por-' tions, saidside'framesbeing' inthe form or belly trusses converging "toward the front or said wheelbarrow and" being spaced" to provide clearancefor a wheel,lthe.portionsof saidftrusses constituting the legs diverging upwardly and iritersecting the tray supporting portions contiguously with the ends thereof, a wheel supported on the portions of said trusses constituting the legs, handles located at the rear intersection of the tray supporting and leg portions, a tray supported upon said tray supporting portions, and bracing and tyingj'rnembers located inintersecting planes spacing said sections laterally.

2,. A..,.wheelbarrow comprising spaced vertical side frames having tray supporting and leg portions, said side frames being in the form of belly trusses:converging toward the front and being spaced to provide clearance for a wheel, the portions efsa'id trusses constituting the legs diverg- IipWardly-and intersecting the tray supportingportions'c'ontiguously with the ends thereof,

;a wl e el-"supported-upon the portions of said trusses constituting the legs, handles located at the intersection of tray supporting and leg portions, atray supported upon said tray supportingfportions," and means spacing and bracingsaid. trusses. V ""3; Advheelbarrow'comprising spaced vertical sidefia'mes having tray supporting and leg por-' tions,j"'said,frames'being in the form of belly trusses converging toward the front of said Wheelbarrow and: Toe'i'n'g spaced to, provide clearance for a wheel, the portions of'said trusses constitutir'ig the legs diverging upwardlyandintersecting the tray supporting portions contiguously vxfith" the" "ends thereof, a wheel supported upon the portions of said trusses "constituting the legs, handles located atrearintersection of the tray supporting leg portions, and a"tra"y' supported uponfs'a'id tray supporting portions. 1

' JOSEPH 'D. FORRER. 

